KERINGA stud has exceeded all expectations at its annual Angus bull sale on Saturday, after blitzing its previous top price with a "stylish bull" that made $32,000.
In the sale rundown, the Culburra-based stud had full clearance of 48 bulls that were up for auction, with a healthy $18,500 sale average.
The sale-topping bull, Keringa Paratrooper R59 SV, was sold for $32,0000 to Lake Ellen Pastoral, Tintinara.
Sired by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 PV, the July 2020-drop bull was commended for "ticking" all of the boxes.
Keringa Paratrooper R59 had Estimated Breeding Values of +53 for 200-day weight, +103 for 400-day weight and +134 for 600-day weight, +79 for carcase weight and +6.5 for eye muscle area.
It weighed 722 kilograms with a scrotal circumference of 41cm, eye muscle area of 88 square cm with a 3-millimetre rib, 5mm rump and 3 per cent intra-muscular fat.
Platinum Ag Keith stock agent Adam Bradley had expectations the sale would be strong but the final result was "impressive".
"The sale was outstanding. There were 20 more register bidders than last year's sale," he said.
Mr Bradley said the line-up of bulls were the best quality he had seen at Keringa.
"I have been involved with the stud for about a decade and to see where they have progressed from to the quality that was presented at the sale, was really special," he said.
The stud invested in Millah Murrah genetics in 2018 and Mr Bradley said the genetics came through the sale bulls loud and clear.
"It certainly drew people to the sale," he said.
Stud principal Trent Walker echoed feedback from stock agents, saying the sale result was far beyond his expectations.
"One of the most pleasing parts was having astute cattlemen and cattlewomen looking at our bulls," he said.
"The feedback about the line-up's consistency was a highlight."
Keringa's stud bulls are pasture-raised, aiding Mr Walker's confidence in the catalogue's breeding potential.
"The top price bull in particular was a bull that we have watched and really like within the stud - it really was the pick of the bunch for us," he said.
The stud's $25,000 second-highest price bull also had Millah Murrah-blood and was sired by Pathfinder Goldmark D189 PV.
It was sold to Marcollat Pastoral, George Verco, Padthaway.
The 22-month-old bull, Keringa R148 PV, also had impressive figures, without a doubt catching buyer eyes.
At 836kg, it had a 41cm scrotal circumference, 80sqcm EMA with 5mm rib, 5mm rump and 5pc IMF.
Its EBVs also demonstrated the bull's potential with +51 for 200-day wt, +95 400-day wt and +129 600-day wt.
Elders Roseworthy key account manager Ben Finch said Keringa's cattle would compare to any other Angus stud.
Mr Finch attributed the jump in top price and sale average to a close working relationship with Millah Murrah at Duramana in NSW.
"It is one of the leading Angus studs in Australia and the trusted mentorship has improved Keringa across the board," he said.
Keringa offered the largest offering of Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 PV sons outside of the stud itself and Mr Finch said its sons averaged $40,000 at Millah Murrah's 2021 sale.
"Keringa invested in a winner. Its bulls were standouts in the sale."
The sale volume buyer was Hillcrest Pastoral, Avenue Range, with 10 bulls to $24,000, averaging $19,400.
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